Preparing for your appointment

You may initially talk to your family doctor about your difficulties in using and understanding language. He or she may refer you to a doctor trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologist) or a speech-language pathologist for further evaluation or treatment.

What you can do

Write down all your symptoms, including when each one started and whether any activity or task seems to make them worse.

Make a list of all your medications, including vitamins and supplements.

Take a family member or friend along to help with communication issues.

Write down questions to ask your doctor, including what types of tests you might need and what treatments might be helpful.

What to expect from your doctor

What happens during your appointment may vary depending on the type of doctor you see. Your doctor may:

Ask detailed questions about your symptoms

Use written or verbal tests to determine the severity of your communication problems

Test your short-term memory

Order additional medical tests to rule out other causes of aphasia

Talk to someone who knows you well to get more information about your communication problems and any recent changes in your behavior

Communicating with people who have aphasia. The National Aphasia Association. http://www.aphasia.org/Aphasia%20Facts/communicating_with_people_who_have_aphasia.html. Accessed Oct. 29, 2012.

Caring for a person with a frontotemporal disorder. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/frontotemporal-disorders-information-patients-families-and-caregivers/caring. Accessed Oct. 31, 2012.

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